It's a gardener's time of year

While search through city commission documents to review the most recent insult to taxpayers I was shocked and thrilled to run across the solid waste department's request to hold a compositing sale.

A closer look revealed that it wasn't what I thought at first _ the city selling compost, which it should. But the city will be selling devices for backyard compositing and rainwater harvesting. At least it's a step in the right direction.

On May 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. residents can buy Norseman composters for $47 each and rain barrels for $58 each.

You can look up the Norseman products online. The reviews look good, the composter and rain barrels are good-looking and made of recycled materials. I did see a couple of complaints that the composter construction makes turning difficult. The company will be selling a composter turner for $15, and a kitchen scrap pail for $7.

The city has teamed up with Augusta Green Team and Norseman Environmental Products to host the event which will be held at the Municipal Building parking lot.

So mark your calendar, and while you have it out, don't forget two other upcoming events that are highlights for local gardeners _ the Sacred Heart Garden Festival and the Pendleton King Park Plant Swap.

The Sacred Hearth Garden Festival kicks off April 17 with a tea party. The Nola Falcone speaker series features Mary and Hugh Dargan of Dargan Landscape Architects on April 26 and Ryan Gainey on April 27. The Dargans and Gainey are nationally renowned professionals.

The preview party is April 28 at Sacred Heart. And the festival is April 29 and 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and May 1 from noon to 5 p.m. The festival tickets are $25, and this year the garden tour is included in that price. And believe me the gardens on tour this year are fabulous.

On the heels of the festival comes the 14th annual Pendleton King Park Plant Swap and Sale on May 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is very fun, free and open to everyone.

You can find great deals on plants and some real beauties. I love it because I always come home with plants that remind me of my fellow master gardeners _ plants that had been well-cared for and ones that will multiple.

There are folks who attend the sale each year to sell their own plants, but the event's feature is the master gardeners' plants.

The MGers bring plants from their own gardens. All proceeds are used to help pay for improvements to Pendleton King Park _ like the bark park, hydrangea garden, and hopefully soon, a new community building. If you would like to participate in the fund-raising sale, please bring plants to the Franke Pavilion on May 6 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you will include labels and growing needs, it will be a big help.

The park is located at 1600 Troupe St. For more information contact Kay Mills at tkmills@knology.net.